"Are we going the right way?", Ike asked as they followed Yune up a long, narrow staircase.
It led from one wall right across the room to the opposite wall. While the flying units stayed in the air, the magicians used magic to carry the horses. The dragons had tried to carry some, as well, but the horses had been too terrified to hold still enough for the dragons to grab them without hurting them.
"Yes. Ashera is at the top. We're going up. This is definitely the right way."
"I'm a little disorientated because it is much bigger than it looked from the outside", Ike admitted. "It's not my imagination, is it?"
"To be honest, you probably shouldn't look around too carefully", Yune warned him. "True miracles can overwhelm and terrify the mortal mind. If you dwell on what you see here, you might stop climbing."
"Really?"
"Yes, really! For the most people, anyway. You are all the exceptions. You are all focused on one goal, and you can't die until you achieve it. That's what you think, right?"
"Yes."
"Desire propels people forward", the goddess mused. "That's how it's been since the beginning of your kind. You hope, give, take, fight, struggle... Out of all those needs and desires, hate and strife are born. And that's all right. You should want. You should strive to fill that want. You should challenge your fates. When all else fails, you can still die fighting."
"Your philosophy is pretty extreme, too. Ashera doesn't forgive people for their imperfections. But you embrace both good and evil natures of people. You seem to enjoy our internal struggles."
"A straight road is boring. Defeat and destruction are far more interesting than stasis."
"Huh. Is there a goddess who takes the middle-of-the-road approach?", Ike asked as they finally approached the next door.
"Well, long ago... Wait. The next one who stands in our way is someone deeply tied to you."
He squared his shoulders. "Let's go."
Ike was pretty certain he knew who was waiting for them.
And indeed, beyond the door, the Black Knight was blocking their way forward.
"You've come. Welcome, son of Gawain. Welcome all, courageous warriors."
The next moment, soldiers led by General Levail of the Begnion army filed in behind them. They were trapped.
Ike turned and rushed at the knight. He was again amazed by the speed with which the armoured knight moved. A powerful blow sent Ike flying through the air. He jumped to his feet just in time to block the knight's attack with Ragnell. Both of them tried to push the other's sword away. After a few seconds, both of them disengaged and lowered their blades.
"I wonder how I didn't notice?", Ike asked. "Your composure, manner, voice... it seems so obvious in retrospect."
The Black Knight didn't reply.
"I wish I'd had the chance to fight you – or see you fight, General. Then I'd have known a lot sooner."
"Unfortunately for both of us, that opportunity never came."
"So, it really is you. The Black Knight... no, General Zelgius!"
Slowly, the knight took off his helmet. Zelgius' green eyes seemed to pierce right through Ike.
Behind him, both the Daein and Begnion people let out shouts of surprise.
"Ike. I have long looked forward to the day we would fight again. Now that it is here, let us not delay any longer! Raise your sword and begin!"
"Let's finish this!"
"Stop right there", Tibarn said angrily. "I have a debt to settle with this scum!"
"True, your revenge against me remains incomplete", Zelgius replied. "However, might I ask you to step aside for now? Though at different times, Ike and I both learned the way of the sword from the same master: one of Daein's famous Great Riders, General Gawain. He left Daein under an assumed name and formed a mercenary company. I was entranced by Greil's swordsmanship while he was in Daein. I studied under him, I fought next to him... I idolised him.
"When he left, I was crushed. I vowed to find him again and challenge him to a duel. I had to know if I had surpassed him! Three years ago, I found him. I challenged him, and was victorious. But something was wrong... The fight had been too simple. I thought I'd never feel satisfaction again... Then, Ike told me why it had been so easy. Greil had severed all the tendons in his right hand, and sworn to never draw a blade again. Can you imagine my joy at that news? I knew a swordsman of his stature couldn't have been so easy to defeat! My master's skill was passed down to his son, Ike. I will defeat him, and finally surpass my master! I trust that you understand. Once our fight is finished, I will allow you to settle our quarrel, Hawk King."
"Please, Tibarn."
"Fine. If you're taking my place, you'd better win. Got that?"
"Of course. This is my chance to avenge my father's death. This time, he won't walk away."
"Let us begin", Zelgius said.
He stuck his sword into the ground, and a blue barrier flashed into existence between Ike and his comrades.
"I won't let anyone interfere with our fight", Zelgius explained.
"Agreed. It's better this way. I can focus on you!"
"No draw. No escape. One wins. One loses. We shall end this." He put his helmet back on and pulled Alondite out of the ground, pointing it at Ike. "One of us will live... and one of us will die."
"I'm ready", Ike replied, pointing Ragnell at him. "Farewell, General Zelgius."
Both of them attacked at the same time. Ike could tell right away that Zelgius wasn't holding back any more. This time, he was dead serious.
But I can't lose this fight... that would mean abandoning everyone... besides, I've got to avenge Father!
On the other side of the barrier, his companions were taking on Levail and his soldiers. Maian was preparing a spell, her grey wings spread. Soren stood right next to her, chanting. Elincia and Marcia had joined forces with Sigrun, Tanith, Haar and Jill. Meanwhile, Maian's guards were fighting on their own. Since their strategy depended on laguz and beorc cooperating perfectly, they couldn't mix with any other force. Oscar and Titania had joined their former comrades from the Crimean Royal Knights; the remaining magicians were fighting on their own. Tibarn and Naesala attacked from above, while Caineghis, Nailah and Skrimir clawed and bit their way through everything in range. But the most amazing thing were the three dragons: Kurthnaga had overcome his dislike of blood and now he, Nala and Ena were roasting and crushing their enemies.
Ike and Zelgius exchanged a series of heavy blows, each of them giving all they had. Since their last fight at Nados Castle – Ike didn't count their encounter at the Ribahn, since he had had to leave early – he had grown a lot stronger, and refined his skills. Additionally, Yune's blessing had increased his strength even more.
Ike felt a sudden flare of pain when he failed to deflect a blow correctly and Alondite cut into his right arm. And somehow, Ike had a feeling that healing spells wouldn't work because of the barrier. Luckily, the wound wasn't deep.
He dodged Zelgius' next attack and spun around to strike at his enemy's back. Zelgius had turned, but a bit too slow, so he had not enough time to raise his sword.
Ike's blow sent him flying into a wall. With a rattling and jingling sound, he collapsed onto the ground. Alondite had fallen from his grip.
"Impressive... Most impressive!", Zelgius gasped, struggling to remove his helmet.
Ike went over to him and collapsed as well, clutching his hand around the wound and fighting for breath.
"You are stronger... much stronger than before", Zelgius observed.
"I have you to thank for that. I grew stronger through our previous fight. To be honest – I was overjoyed when I heard the Black Knight was still alive. That surprised me. I felt neither sadness nor hate. Just joy. My hands were shaking with anticipation... I couldn't wait to fight my most formidable enemy again! Your swordsmanship was fearsome. Fiercer and more powerful than any I had ever seen. After our duel three years ago, I trained hard, trying to remember each of your skills and techniques."
"General Gawain was invincible – at the time he trained me. To surpass him was my ultimate goal – as a swordsman", Zelgius replied, his breathing becoming more and more laboured.
"Was I as skilled as my father was in his prime years? Did you see his shadow in my sword?"
"I certainly did, Ike", Zelgius replied, smiling for the first time since Ike had met him. "Thanks to you, I was – able to fight my master at the height of – his glory days."
"Black Knight Zelgius. You were my father's killer. And my last teacher."
"I spent most of – my life shrouded in darkness... but my life had meaning. Now I am – certain of it..."
He was barely able to form proper sentences at this point, and his voice had grown faint.
"...phiran, I'll be waiting for you... in the afterlife..."
His head lolled to the side as his eyes lost focus. Ike squeezed his eyes shut.
In the meantime, the others had finished their fight as well, and the magicians dispelled the barrier. Yune came over to join Ike.
"Let's move on", Ike said. "We don't have much time left..."
As he struggled to his feet, both swords suddenly started glowing.
"The swords are calling out to each other", Yune said. "The holy sword Alondite... It's the counterpart to your sword, Ragnell. I think it wants you to take it up."
However, the moment Ike's hand touched the sword, something happened. It was as if a barrier within his mind had shattered to pieces, and the next moment, a memory came welling up inside him – a memory Ike couldn't remember to have ever had.
"What happened here?!", a soldier asked, aghast.
Though he looked younger, Ike recognised Zelgius. The village they were in was the beorc settlement in Gallia, where Ike had lived with his family... but something was wrong. There were corpses everywhere.
"We have arrived too late", another man replied. Sephiran looked just the same as Ike remembered him from three years ago, and he was, once again, wearing a ragged cloak.
He didn't age at all during such a long time?
"General Gawain!", Zelgius exclaimed, spotting a figure lying motionless on the ground. Next to him lay another, holding a medallion that was glowing in a blue light.
Zelgius hurried over to Greil's side.
"General Gawain... oh, thank the Goddess. He's still alive", he breathed. However, his relief didn't last long. "But – oh no... what has he done? Elena... Did he kill her?!"
"It must have been the medallion. He touched it, and the chaos bound within sent him into a rage beyond reason. Tragic..."
The next moment, they noticed the boy who stood there, watching them.
"Ike, wait for me!", a girl called.
Mist came running to her brother's side, and stopped dead.
"Ah! Mother, Father!"
She dashed forward.
"The General's children...", Zelgius whispered.
"What's wrong with them?", Mist asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "Are they asleep? Father? Mother?"
"They are very tired, child", Sephiran replied. "Let's not disturb them."
"We can't let them sleep here! It's cold out! We have to take them home!"
Ike just stood there, without saying anything.
"Ike?", Mist asked.
"I'll take them home", Zelgius said to her. "Will you show me the way?"
"Yeah! Come with me."
Zelgius lifted Greil into his arms and followed her.
Sephiran knelt down next to Elena and checked her pulse.
"May your final slumber be a peaceful one", he said, closing her eyes. "It appears that the medallion was too much for Lord Ashnard. It would be unwise to allow him access to it again."
He reached out for the Fire Emblem. The same moment, Mist returned.
"Ah! Hey! That's my mother's medallion! No-one's supposed to see it!"
She darted forward and snatched it away.
"No, child, you mustn't touch it!", Sephiran exclaimed in horror, reaching out to stop her.
However, Mist was too quick, and backed away out of his reach.
"We can't let it get lost. I'll keep it."
"You – you are unchanged?", Sephiran whispered.
Ike had never seen the man be so utterly thunderstruck.
Mist ran over to where Zelgius stood.
"You said you would take my mother home, too."
"Yes, of course."
While Zelgius carried Elena's body away, Mist turned to her brother, who still hadn't moved.
"Ike? What's wrong? Why are you just standing there? Are you hurt?"
"You saw everything, didn't you? Poor child", Sephiran said softly.
"Ike?", Mist asked, more insistent this time, reaching for his hand.
Light emanated from Sephiran's staff and surrounded Ike's younger self. Again, he saw his father stabbing his mother.
Ike let out a blood-curling scream and collapsed, clutching his head.
"Ike? What's wrong?", Mist yelled, wringing her hands.
Her cries alerted Zelgius, who came running out of their house.
Still screaming, Ike launched himself at his sister.
"Ouch! Ike, that hurts! Let go!"
Instead of listening to her, Ike continued screaming.
"What happened?", Zelgius asked, watching the spectacle with growing horror.
"Give me a moment", Sephiran replied.
Again, his staff started to glow.
"Sweet children... sleep now. Rest."
"What did you do to him?", Zelgius asked as both children collapsed.
"Merely helped him to forget. I could not leave this memory to haunt him. It is too heavy a burden for one so young."
"What will you do with the medallion?"
"The girl seems to be safe from its influence. We will leave it with her, for the time being."
The next moment, Ike found himself back in the present.
"Wh-what was that?", he asked, completely disoriented.
"You saw it too, didn't you? That memory – could that have been - "
"I – I was there... in that... place... My mother, she tried to stop my father, and he killed her... I saw it all..."
"Is that what happened? I was contained inside at the time. I had no idea."
"Zelgius…"
Ike raised his sword in salute and bowed his head to the dead knight. Then, he picked up Alondite.
I think I'll give it to Mist. One sword's enough for me.
"Can you still fight?", Yune asked.
"Yes. I will keep fighting. I won't stop until I die."
Yune watched Ike leave. As she started to follow him, she was swallowed again by a whirlpool of memories...
They were inside a room full of weapons. A muscular man with dark hair was sitting on a crate, facing the wall opposite them. His jerkin was lying on his knees and there, on his back, was a black shape...
"You bear the mark", the narrator observed. "So, that's your secret... the blood of the laguz runs through your veins."
"Yes. There was someone on my father's side who – who was with – a laguz", the sitting man replied haltingly. "My lord – the brand... do you know of a way to remove it? This cursed thing... I – I am an outcast from my family. I joined the military to escape the shame and hatred in their eyes... I live in fear of discovery. When I think that I might see the same shame and hatred in another's eyes, I... I come close to despair. I have lived my life alone, unable to trust or come close to anyone..."
"Such loneliness and isolation. You poor child... It pains me to tell you that I know of no way to remove your brand."
"I – I understand. It was a foolish question... I apologise."
The man got to his feet and turned around. His clear, green eyes were full of pain.
"Lord Sage, I – I realised some years ago that I age slower than others do."
"And you wish to conceal that fact, don't you? Is that why you rarely remove your armour, even when indoors?"
"Yes, but this ruse will not work indefinitely... in a few years' time, I will be forced to leave this army's service."
"And once again, you will be alone."
"I am used to being alone", the man huffed. "My only hesitation is that – I will miss studying the sword under my commander, General Gawain."
"When the time comes for you to leave, will you then come to me, perhaps?", the narrator suggested.
"My lord?"
"We share a – similar condition. I see something familiar within you. I can... understand your pain and isolation."
"But why me?"
"I have a task that I must accomplish. With you at my side, I would feel more confident of my success."
"If I join you, will I be redeemed?"
"I cannot say. At the very least, however, you will no longer be alone. And neither will I."
"That is enough, then. You have made my decision simple. When I leave here, I will find you. I am a soldier in the Daein army. I serve under the command of General Gawain. My name is Zelgius. May I ask your name, my lord sage?"
"My name? Of course..."
The memory faded away.
"Whose – whose memory was that?!", Yune complained. "It's just one of many... they swirl everywhere... The tower resonates with their strength. But – who is it? Who do they belong to? There is such sadness. Zelgius met someone. One lonely soul calling out to another... But he's no longer with us. Zelgius is gone... And now the soul that remains is once more... alone..."
Yune turned abruptly, and hurried after Ike.
A/N:
Pro tip: If you don't want Levail to waste your Wishblade, just have Micaiah or Sanaki attack him.
Oh, and it's totally possible to give Alondite to Mist, provided you've been diligently working on her weapon level.
Trivia: In my original draft for this story, which I wrote after finishing PoR, Maian was a Daein princess who had survived Ashnard's bloody rise to power – I'd assumed, back on the information we had at the time, that Ashnard had used the plague as a kind of scapegoat for all the murdering he was doing. Maian, who was before him in line to the throne, was spirited away by people loyal to her. During the Mad King's War, she and her men seized Nevassa after Ashnard left, and she offered Ike and Elincia a bargain – she'd help them liberate Crimea if they supported her as the next queen of Daein.
I scrapped that story after finding out about the Blood Pact, and turned Maian into a Begnion senator – and a hybrid – instead. Oh, and she was a Draco Knight originally.